Introduction: Keychain Wristlet

About: I like making stuff. I like buying stuff, I like doing stuff. I just like stuff really.

This fabric Keychain Wristlet is worth more than it's weight in gold when your hands are full with shopping, pets, kids or whatever. It also makes your keys much harder to lose in a bag. It is sturdy, washable, and depending on your choice in fabric can reflect your tastes perfectly!

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Step 1: Gather Materials

You will need.

Materials
1 x keyfob hardware [these are available for sale on ebay and other places online] If you can't get one of these, see this instructable on how to make one using a D ring.
1 x medium weight cotton fabric, at least 27cm x 7cm
1 x fusible interfacing 27cm x 7cm
1 x fusible interfacing 27 cm x 3cm
1 x Cotton tape approx 3cm x 27cm [this is not adhesive, but a woven length of cotton available from a fabric store]
Polyester machine thread

Tools
Iron
Scissors
Ruler/tape measure
Sewing Machine
Blunt nosed pliers

Step 2: Iron

a. Iron your fabric. It is essential to start with ironed fabric!
b. Place large piece of fusible interfacing shiny side down on wrong side of fabric. 
c. Check placement and iron interfacing onto fabric. It is best to cover the whole thing with a sheet of brown paper or baking paper to avoid melting the interfacing.

Step 3: Cut and Mark

a. Cut around the fused interfacing/fabric, giving you a piece of fabric exactly 7cm x 27cm 
b. Measure exactly halfway on the 7cm edges [3.5cm] and mark with an erasable marker or tailor's chalk.
c. Measure exactly halfway on the 2nd piece of interfacing [3cm x 27cm], on the the short end as above. Mid point will be 1.5cm

Step 4: Iron Some More

 a. Place the 3cm piece of interfacing shiny side down on the fused interfacing/fabric, on the interfacing side., matching centre marks. This doubles the rigidity of the middle without making it to thick to sew later.
b. Iron interfacing to fused piece, in the same manner as before.
c. Fold long side edges over, using the middle interfacing as a guide. The edges should overlap in the middle and the whole width should now match the width of the hardware. See attached pictures for further clarification. 
d. Iron creases.

Step 5: Place Tape and Sew

a. Place the cotton tape on the folded fabric, covering the raw edges.
b. Using a 3mm stitch and topstitch or jeans needle, sew close to the edge of the tape, attaching it to the fabric and hiding the raw edges on the long side. Stitch very carefully as the stitches will be visible on the outside of the wristlet.

Step 6: Almost There.

a. Trim any loose ends and if needed, straighten the edges.
b. Match raw edges, right side up. This means the cotton tape side is inside the loop.
c. Sew raw edges together, approx. 5mm from edge. This keeps it all together when attaching the hardware. 

Step 7: Fasten Hardware

This step feels like you need a extra hand, so if someone is around grab them, if not slow and steady wins the day. After you've done one it gets much easier.

a. Find a scrap of fabric to protect the hardware when closing it.
b. Line up the fabric loop in the open hardware, making sure it doesn't hang out over the sides.
c. Cover the hardware with the spare fabric and using a pair of blunt nose pliers, begin to squeeze the hardware closed. 
d. Before it is fully closed, check the placement of the loop again, because if it has slipped you'll want to reposition.
e. Fully close the hardware with the pliers, squeezing as tight as you can.

Step 8: Finishing Touches

If you have a metal keyring to attach the keychain wristlet to, do so now and trim any loose ends. It is now ready to hang on your keys or be given to someone you like as a gift.

If you want to get really into it, you can embellish the fabric with ribbon, beads, embroidery or whatever takes your fancy. Just remember that it will probably get banged around a bit in bags and the like so make sure whatever you do is hard wearing.